THE demand for horses in training was apparent on the opening day of the Tattersalls February Sale, as a six-year-old topped proceedings at 220,000gns, while a promising maiden fetched 90,000gns.

Top lot Galashiels will have a short break before travelling Down Under, according to Colm Sharkey, who signed the docket on behalf of Ciaran Maher. Jamie Spencer did the bidding, relegating Jerry McGrath to the role of underbidder for the Godolphin-consigned chesnut.

“Ciaran picked the horse out,” Sharkey explained. “The horse fits the profile for Australia, he has the form and pedigree. He made more than we expected, but Ciaran was keen to get him and has been lucky buying from Andre Fabre before.”

A listed winner over a mile and a half as a three-year-old, the son of Australia raced just twice the following season, and returned to win a listed race and place in three stakes races last season, his best runs coming over a mile and a half.

Godolphin goldmine

Godolphin sold nine of the top 10 lots on the opening day, three of which sold to Alessandro Marconi. The bloodstock agent bought 17 lots for a total of 533,000gns on Thursday, ranging from five costing 1,000gns apiece, to 130,000gns for Scarlet Princess.

By Kingman and out of Group 1 winner Lady Marian, Scarlet Princess added to her appeal by placing on both her career starts for Charlie Appleby. Plans remain fluid for the three-year-old and others purchased by Marconi, as the agent explained: “The horses will be assessed and we go from there.

“We were lucky buying here in July, I recommended this sale as I felt it offered good value – that is why we are here. My client operates a large, emerging syndicate and is based in the Middle East. There are some big plans and horses will be based both in Europe and the Middle East. Once the purchases have finished racing, they could be breeding prospects.”

Marconi was more specific regarding plans for 90,000gns buy Modernise, saying: “He will run in France, and we have a couple of trainers in mind, but it needs a little thinking about. I am very keen on having horses in the Emirates and in Europe.

“He is by a great sire, he is unexposed, he is from a classic trainer, he seems as though he will develop into a very nice three-year-old over a classic trip, hopefully the ground and racing in France will suit.”

Trained by Harry Charlton for owner/breeder Juddmonte, the Frankel colt ran green on debut at Kempton last month, beaten 10 lengths at 15/2. He was slowly away last time out at Southwell, going on to finish third, beaten three and a half lengths by the now 77-rated City Of God.

Marconi paid the same price for another well-related filly from Godolphin, the unraced Night Of Thunder three-year-old Helen Keller.

Irish interest

Timmy Hillman was among the Irish buyers present, securing Paradise Spring on behalf of Windgates Stud for 82,000gns. The once-raced bay is a half-sister to Group 1-winning sprinter Naval Crown, and from the first crop of Ghaiyyath, who sired an impressive winner earlier this week in Opera Ballo.

“It’s a very good family with Naval Crown under the first dam,” Hillman said of his purchase. “It goes back to a good Kilfrush line and there’s a lot going as the dam has a couple of Dubawis to come and is going back to him.

“Her half-sister Spring Promise is also in-foal to Dubawi. This is a good-looking filly, who was well backed when she ran at Newmarket. Plans are undecided but she’ll likely stay over here for now.”

By the end of the day, the median price came to 14,500gns; more than double that achieved at last year’s opening session, while the average increased by 56% to 22,013gns. The clearance rate of 87% was a major improvement on last year’s of 70%. Incredibly, the turnover jumped by 78% to 2,509,500gns, despite 8% less lots being offered.

WHILE the prices posted on Friday appeared more modest than those achieved on the opening day, they were high considering the horses that commanded them. Alessandro Marcano’s spending power lasted into the second session, paying the day’s top price of 100,000gns for the three-year-old Sergei Prokofiev colt Baridi.

Retained for 8,000gns as a yearling, the bay won his second start in early December, taking a Lingfield maiden by a neck. Stuart Williams’ charge earned an official rating of 73 for his performance.

“I am a big fan of the sire,” the purchasing agent commented.

“I could not afford them in the autumn, so I preferred to get one who has shown some form. This is a lovely horse, hopefully he can train on again. He came highly recommended by Stuart, and he is a very good trainer. When we looked around today he was the pick, but I had hoped to get him for a lot less!”

Whitsbury Manor Stud resident Sergei Prokofiev was the leading first season sire by winners (27) and wins (34) in Europe in 2024, but also had the most runners. The son of Scat Daddy shared second spot by blacktype winners (2) and group winners (1).

Sergei Prokofiev’s best performer is Adrian Murray’s Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes victor Arizona Blaze, who took second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

His smart start at stud saw four of his yearlings sell for six-figure sums, and for an average price of 27,000gns, driving his fee to £8,000 in 2025.

A horse well-travelled

Wanderlust is proving well-named, with the German-sired, Italian-bred and British-trained three-year-old now destined for Spain. Rated 77 after placing on all his starts for Marco Botti, Scuderia La Tesa’s homebred brought 62,000gns from Stamina Turf’s Rafael Rojano on behalf of Sociedad Civil Cudra Allegria.

On the three-year-old’s appeal, Rojano explained: “My client Arturo San Jose has a string of nice three-year-olds, but perhaps is missing a [Madrid] Derby horse. We had a good try yesterday on the Frankel colt from Juddmonte [Modernise], but it is a strong market and it was too much for us.

“This horse is the obvious choice today and he is going training with Sandro Tseretelli, who is based at La Zarzuela, the main racecourse in Spain. As the Derby in Spain is open to geldings, he can be targeted at a Classic campaign.”

New venture

Based on the prices paid for promising horses without wins, Sorbus would have been popular on her debut fourth alone, but Ed Walker’s charge went on to win a fillies’ maiden at Kempton since the catalogue was printed.

Her racing career may not be over yet either, according to Emma Colbert, who gave 60,000gns for the Night Of Thunder filly.

Having previously bred sport horses, Colbert now has eight thoroughbred mares at the nearby Colbert Stud, with plans to increase that number to 20.

On Friday’s purchase, Colbert commented: “The plan will be to breed from her, but I think she will go back into training now, she is fit and ready to go and could progress. She has a good walk and is a lovely character, and we really like her. Her trainer was very positive about her, too.”

Two days of competitive bidding returned a record median price for the February Sale at 11,000gns, while the average of 18,034gns was the second-highest in the sale’s history.

The clearance rate of 85% was also encouraging, particularly at this early stage of the year.